titanium2

You really don't think it makes a world of difference? I'm sure you have your reasons but why not? It was a big difference to me at least points wise. It's fun to have control of the puck.

Let's see. If I were a believer in that then I'd first look to the most popular examples I've seen forum people cite, which are Fedorov and Lapointe. You could perhaps make a case for Schneider, although age is a factor as well. If I were to argue from your side, as in the Wings make some players stats less than what they're capable of, I'd say Ray Whitney is a good one. Also, it is possible for some players to play on other teams and produce (points) just as well if not better, Slava Kozlov as one example. (Sorry, I'm too tired to dig and argue deeper. Maybe I'll come back tomorrow with more. Personally, I don't care, but it's been my perception that that is what many other teams think, which is just an aggravating circumstance when you already consider Hudler's size and skating ability).

Where is EuroTwin with her Pavel Shenanigans picture? I suppose I'll post my own. IT'S A CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!

Dammit. I almost used Kyle but Chad sounds funnier. I almost used Blake but then I looked at your username. I sometimes wonder why shows like Family Guy and South Park have to mock certain people, but then I see some "hipster" as you said following the great Paris Hilton example and the sense for concern fades away.

Haha, there are some quality stereotypes in there. Is one of your friends named Chad?

Not a fan of the cardboard smoothies?

Well don't you have more time and space when there's only 4 guys up against you instead of 5? But that's why I said best defensive forwards, which could be on a team's 3rd, 4th, whatever line. Don't teams normally send out their best defensive forwards against the other team's top scoring line?

I actually have a hard time believing that most teams in the league are as open minded as the Wings and a lot of them probably would not have a 5'8 182 lb Euro who just can't skate fast enough as a permanent fixture on their top-6, let alone their top line, no matter how skilled he is or how many points he had as a red wing, the team that apparently makes players look better than they are. I suspect that a lot of bottom feeder teams wouldn't even get past the vitals as well as the scouting report on his skating ability and just dismiss him as "too small and slow." ...Did that glass of water just rumble?

Touche. It's the only proper response I can think of.

I assumed that Hossa will play with Toews, perhaps ruining the chemistry he has with Kane much like he did to Pav and Z. Z could repeat the same intensity he displayed against Crosby-Hossa in 08. Shouldn't be all that different.

Not just 20 minutes a night but also 20 minutes a night as a first line player against the best defensive forwards on a team along with the best defensemen and not on the power play.

I wonder if him being on the roster changed the approach of the coaches, perhaps made the gameplans more geared towards using offense. I suppose it's understandable if you have Pav, Z, Mule and Hoss. Well I always thought that when it came to anticipating defensively and positioning that Hossa was rather middle of the pack as a Red Wing, but that's theoretically above average in regards to the rest of the league.

You'd think we'd be able to just leave it at this but unfortunately the thread will probably go on for another couple weeks.

He has to be. He doesn't have size as an advantage.

And I quote Lil' John... "...YEAH!"

I was actually surprised to see Larsson get as many votes as he has. I guess we're not as easily persuaded by McCollum's NA flair as I thought.

That's who I'm banking on. Zetterberg versus Datsyuk for the gold!

Yeah? Well I got her virginity and I ain't givin' it back.

Can't wait until the next playoff series where Z frustrates him to no end. "I'm Hank Zetterberg, *****! I gots the puck and you don't. Guess that's why I got a contract. Maybe the Lincoln Park Zoo will sponsor a playoff choker. Have fun pretending to be a Cubs fan. "

I guess Hossa was giving a compliment when you think about. Chicago is a hockeytown. Detroit is THE hockeytown. "A" is an indefinite article while "the" is a definite article. Hossa's subconscious is not as bad as it may seem.

Ehh... The Fleury comparison doesn't give me all that much comfort. He's like night and day and you never really know when he's going to dominate and when he's going to suck. Hopefully one of the four can be a goaltender that produces on a more stable kind of basis and I don't care if he's an all-star.

Filppula for MVP!

He's proof that you can teach defense. That is, if you're willing to learn. It's amazing how some players just aren't willing though. And I don't see Yzerman as a coach. If he's got the mind for it, he could take Kenny's spot when he's done, which is half-jokingly when Lidstrom retires, who is another guy that I wish can play forever. 17 years in a row of playoff appearances, I'd say 15 years of cup contention, and it's no coincidence that it began when Lidstrom first came over.

Has confidence been an issue with Howard? Like when they report that Howard is inconsistent, is it that he's inconsistent in his confidence level? That's kind of worrisome.

I remember a certain goal. I don't think it should be in any top 10 but it was a nice symbolic gesture. Yzerman and Zetterberg go 2 on none against Eddie Belfour. Yzerman makes a quick perfect pass and Zetterberg just bangs it into the net. I have it on tape somewhere. I need to find it and get me a vcr converter. It was beautiful.